Transport officials in Nova Scotia say a toll highway notorious for sudden snow squalls was blocked early Wednesday when several tractor-trailers got stuck on a hill approaching either side of the toll booth plaza.

Motorists were advised to avoid the Cobequid Pass, which is along one of the highways that links northern Nova Scotia with New Brunswick.

Meanwhile, there were sporadic power outages in New Brunswick, and about eight thousand residents and businesses in Nova Scotia were without power as strong gusts pulled down power lines.

More than half of the outages in Nova Scotia were reported in the Amherst, Dartmouth, Spinghill and Pugwash areas.

As well, the Confederation Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles, and Nova Scotia’s Highway 104 in Cumberland County was closed for seven hours after four tractor-trailers collided in the fog.